Last week,  I launched The Attention & Perception E-Course.

It was a huge project that took years to finally come together (since it involved filming more than 30 demonstration videos). Throughout the course creation process, I was knee-deep in attention and perception techniques.

I spent time looking through old files and session plans to remember “oldie but goodie” techniques.

And, I generated brand new ideas to target these processes.

Honestly, it reminded me of how fun and engaging these techniques can be to create and facilitate.

So recently, to keep up the momentum, I came up with a brand new idea to work on developing auditory perception and listening skills with my clients.

I’m using it in my teletherapy sessions with children with autism and other special needs. I wanted to share it here in case it would be beneficial to your clients, regardless of their age.

Here’s what we did:

I introduced the lovely Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns.

I told the clients it was their job to listen to the selected pieces – Kangaroos, Aquarium, Aviary, and The Swan – and tell me the animals they thought each one was portraying and why.

The WHY is key here, because I want them to be listening closely to the piece and paying attention to specific musical elements that make it sound like the animal.

I gave my clients the vocabulary to describe what they were hearing – slow, fast, short, spooky, happy.

Working on these auditory perception skills in music therapy has a direct transfer to the classroom setting and social situations.

This will help them listen to their teachers’ instructions in school or pick up on the emotional tone of what a friend is saying during a conversation.

I’m already planning more creative listening experiences that will help my clients and students develop their auditory perception and listening skills.

Will you be doing the same?